Reply #10: There are no rules [View All]

[AngryLizard]

"p.s. As a Creative Writing/Literature major I was raised from a child at the knee to support statements with specific examples, which I did, and you did not. You may not agree with my statements but they were supported with evidence (camera angles, contrived storytelling, etc.) Yours did not give any specific examples. Although, I will give you the character development since, in theory anyway, that's what the flashbacks are for. But the rest were all general statements not addressing in any substantial way my topics."

This reminds me of that scene in Dead Poet's Society where Robin Williams reads them an essay that gives a formula for great literature. The point is, there is no formula for great literature, just like there is no formula for great television, or movies, or whatever. I think it's a somewhat specious argument to say that "camera angles" make or break great television. I could say that I learned in my screenwriting class 10 years ago that the "rule" is that you get two contrivances, and since Lost follows that rule, then it's great storytelling. There are no rules. It's all subject to personal opinion. No one has to give you "specific examples" of why they like something.